On September 25, 2025, the often-turbulent relationship between the United States and China took a notable turn toward stability as leaders and business titans from both countries met in New York City. The day unfolded with a series of high-profile events, starting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s outreach to American business executives and culminating in a pivotal decision by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the future of TikTok on American soil. For those watching the world’s two largest economies, the day’s developments offered a rare glimpse of optimism amid years of tension and uncertainty.
Premier Li Qiang, addressing a select group of around 20 U.S. business leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, set the tone with a message of partnership and mutual benefit. According to Bloomberg, Li told the gathering, “The world’s two largest economies can and should become friends and partners.” It was a sentiment that echoed through the room, filled with influential figures such as Robert Goldstein, chairman and chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp; Thomas Donilon, chairman of the BlackRock Investment Institute; Peng Zhao, CEO of Citadel Securities; Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer Inc; Ryan McInerney, CEO of Visa Inc; and Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of FedEx Corp.
The meeting, as reported by Xinhua, included representatives from the U.S.-China Business Council, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Council on Foreign Relations, along with prominent scholars and business leaders. The diversity of the group reflected the breadth of the economic ties—sometimes fraught, often competitive, but deeply intertwined—that bind the two nations.
Premier Li’s remarks struck a conciliatory note. He emphasized, “The U.S. and China need to work in the same direction to further what he described as ‘the most important bilateral partnership in the world.’” According to Bloomberg, Li acknowledged the differences between the two countries’ market structures but pointed out that their industries are highly complementary. “Enhanced economic and trade cooperation benefits both countries and the wider world,” he said.
Li’s message was not just about lofty ideals. He addressed the practical concerns of the business community, pledging concrete support for foreign enterprises. “Regardless of changes in the external environment, China will make every possible effort to ensure greater certainty for the growth of foreign companies,” Li stated, as quoted by Bloomberg. He promised that China would work with the U.S. to promote a “steady recovery” of economic and trade ties, emphasizing a foundation of “equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.”
For the American executives in attendance, the Premier’s overtures were more than just diplomatic pleasantries. Robert Goldstein of Las Vegas Sands Corp, whose firm has significant interests in Macau, was among those who listened intently. The presence of leaders from finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and payments highlighted the scale of U.S. investment in China and the stakes for both sides should relations deteriorate further.
Li’s pledge to create more opportunities for U.S. and other foreign businesses came at a time when many companies have grown wary of the unpredictable regulatory environment in China. The assurance that Beijing would strive for “greater certainty” was welcomed by many in the room, though some remained cautious, remembering past promises that were slow to materialize. Still, the Premier’s remarks signaled a recognition that foreign investment remains vital to China’s economic ambitions.
While Li Qiang sought to build bridges in New York, another major development was unfolding in Washington. Just hours after the Premier’s meeting, President Donald Trump approved a deal for American investors to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd. The decision, reported by Bloomberg, was a significant move to keep the popular social media service alive in the U.S. and to remove a persistent irritant in the broader U.S.-China relationship.
The TikTok saga has been emblematic of the broader tensions between Washington and Beijing, touching on issues of data security, economic competition, and the growing influence of Chinese technology companies overseas. For months, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. had hung in the balance, with the Trump administration threatening to ban the app unless its American operations were sold to a U.S.-approved entity. The approval of the deal signaled a willingness on both sides to find pragmatic solutions to thorny disputes, at least for now.
Observers noted that the timing of Trump’s decision was no coincidence. Coming on the heels of Li Qiang’s outreach to U.S. business leaders, it suggested a coordinated effort to signal de-escalation. The deal not only preserves TikTok’s presence in the U.S. market—where it boasts millions of users—but also removes a major source of friction in bilateral talks. As one executive at the New York meeting put it privately, “It’s a win for common sense.”
The day’s events did not erase the deep-seated challenges that remain between the two powers. Issues such as intellectual property rights, market access, human rights, and military competition continue to cast long shadows over the relationship. Yet, as Premier Li noted, the stakes are global. “Enhanced economic and trade cooperation benefits both countries and the wider world,” he said, underscoring the ripple effects that U.S.-China relations have on international stability and prosperity.
For American businesses, the message from Beijing was clear: China wants their investment, their expertise, and their continued engagement. For Chinese leaders, the hope is that a more stable relationship with the U.S. will help underpin China’s own economic recovery and reform efforts. Whether these overtures will translate into lasting change remains to be seen.
In the end, September 25, 2025, may be remembered as a day when both sides chose dialogue over confrontation, at least for a moment. For the executives who met with Premier Li, and for the millions of TikTok users who will keep scrolling, the day’s developments offered a welcome—if cautious—breath of fresh air in a relationship too often defined by suspicion and rivalry.
